The Death of Numerical Intuition

For those of you who aren't aware, my daughter just started high school. One of the required items on her school shopping list was a serious, $100+ calculator. The school recommends the TI-83, TI-83+, or TI-84. Do they really need such a serious graphing calculator for algebra? No! Let me back up a little.

When I was in 9th grade, the thought of using a calculator in math class was totally unheard of. I'm not talking about the stone age. I started 9th grade in September 1982. In fact, I didn't have to buy my first calculator until I was taking Math 12. This was a class in analytic geometry and statistics. The calculator wasn't necessary for geometry, but it really allowed me to study the concepts behind statistics without having to waste a lot of time adding up columns of numbers.

Back to the present day:
I wasn't about to buy my 13-year-old a $100+ calculator when I already have a TI-86 that I bought when I first started at RIT back in 1999. The calculator was recommended for my major, but I didn't really use it to it's full potential. It came in really handy for doing calculations in scientific notation and returning the answer in the same format. I even used it for some graphing in my Calculus classes. More often than not, I wasn't allowed to use my calculator on Calculus tests. I was expected to do the calculations and sketch the graphs freehand.

Now, my daughter is starting Algebra learning about quadratic equations. For the math illiterate, a quadratic equation is an equation of the format y=ax^2+bx+c. When graphed, this equation generates a parabola. It may seem kind of complicated, but trust me when I say it is one of the simplest equations in math. Every night for homework, my daughter has to graph about 6 of these equations and find the vertex, axis of symmetry, and assorted other information from the graph. In my day, I had to create a table of values and graph the darn thing on regular notebook paper. Now, the kids can just put the equation into the calculator, push a couple buttons, and they have their graph. Another couple of button presses and they have their table of values.

Now many of you might be saying, "Good for her. She is making use of the available technology." To that, I will reply, "BULLSHIT!!" She is being robbed of the really intimate knowledge that is gained from actually working with and manipulating the letters, numbers, and coordinates that make up the solution to the equation. Because I did these equations, and more complicated equations, by hand, I developed an uncanny intuition when it comes to numbers. If I see an equation, I can probably do a pretty accurate sketch of its graph. I fear that neither of my kids will be taught to develop that ability... All because teachers these days are too lazy to show kids how to elicit the magic that is stored inside those equations.

(Almost) 14 years and counting....

Marianne and I just returned from a weekend getaway to celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. Our anniversary isn't until Wednesday, but I don't think either of us could wait for a weekend escape. It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend, yet it was very tiring.

We had a couples massage on Saturday at 4pm. Of course, we were running a little late, so I don't think we got our full 50 minutes. Regardless, I walked out more relaxed than I walked in, so I guess it was successful. It's a good thing that I didn't see the bill right after the massage or all of their work would have been for nought. All I can say is: I should have gone to school for massage therapy. I'm in the wrong business.

Saturday at 6pm, we had reservations at Bellini's, a little Italian restaurant. The food and service was wonderful and the portions were, to say the least, generous. In fact, Marianne ate so little of her dish before she was full that when the waitress walked by, she offered the obligatory, "Is something wrong with the Cavatelli?" The food was wonderful...there was just a lot of it.

After dinner, we headed to the mall for some shopping. I came out of there with 3 new colognes. I just love new cologne. It's like you get to be someone different...or at least smell like them. We then went to Home Depot to get a new shower hose. I know it's romantic, but in our rush to get to the couples massage, the current shower hose broke. It probably would not be a good idea to leave the house without a working shower for more than a day.

After the shopping, we decided to grab a 6-pack to go and head back to the hotel. We enjoyed a movie and got too little sleep.

We had an 8am tee time. I just love morning golf. Marianne decided that she isn't much good at golf before 9am, so the first 4 holes were pretty rough for her. She still pulled out a 71. I managed to scramble my way to a 54.

All in all, it was a great weekend. We got to enjoy each other's company while doing things that the other enjoyed. (Marianne: spa and shopping. Me: golf and shopping.)

When we returned today, Marianne went upstairs to lie down. I got to stay up and deal with "The Great Escape!!!" Go to our family blog for the whole story.

Back again

It took some time, but I found my old blog. This is where I will post my own random thoughts. I found it odd that I haven't posted to this blog in 3-1/2 years. Here we are now, in the midst of another presidential election. Coincidence??? I have no idea. I don't know how often I will post here, or even what I will post about, but I guess it is kind of nice knowing that I have the option to post my thoughts somewhere, even if nobody comes here to read them.